Roof closed, pitch newly-laid.

The Carling Cup Final kicks off in around 15 minutes at the Millennium
Stadium. The pitch was recently re-laid completely for a six-figure
sum, and although the stadium management admit that it doesn’t look as
nice as it should, this is only cosmetic and they are sure that the
pitch will hold up well. The roof is closed for today’s match.

Baros starts on the bench, with Morientes playing. Whether he
plays as a lone-striker or plays alongside Kewell will be clear once
the game starts. With Gerrard and Hamman likely to play centrally, and
Riise likely to start ahead of Traore on the left-side of midfield, it
leaves it likely that Kewell will play just behind Morientes, with
Garcia on the right.

Alternatively Liverpool could play a 4-3-3 formation. Liverpool have
lost, narrowly, to Chelsea twice this season, so Benitez will be hoping
his tactic close that narrow difference from the previous games.